This blog desires to encourage and serve people in the gospel of Christ. It is our passion that the beauty of Christ may radiate through our marriage, lifestyle and parenting. We also hope you enjoy reading about the stories that make up our lives.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Rock-a-Bye Baby?

Whenever I put Hannah Mai to bed, I sing her a song. After the fourth stanza, whether or not she is sleeping, I lay her down and let her go to sleep on her own. I sing her the same song every single time. Do I sing “Rock-a-Bye Baby,” “Hush, Little Baby,” or any other common lullabies? Not exactly. Actually I sing “In Christ Alone,” by Getty & Townend. Sound odd? Let me explain.

When Hannah was first born, I tried to sing “Rock-a-Bye Baby” to her. However, when I got to the end and sang, “When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all,” I cringed. Why in the world am I singing my child a song that insinuates her death?! Okay…so that’s just one song. What’s wrong with “Hush Little Baby?” My problem with that one is that you’re pretty much singing a bribe to your child. In essence, you’re saying “Pleeeeease go to sleep and I’ll get you whatever you want.” I’m sure that song was written by a desperate mother and I’ve felt her pain. :) Yet it still does not sit well with me.

So what about “In Christ Alone” is so attractive to me? I will say it’s definitely the lyrics, though I also enjoy the tune. The lyrics lay out the gospel so clearly and beautifully. What a great way to share the gospel with my child, even long before she’ll understand. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (ESV) This passage more or less encourages us to talk about the Lord and His laws in every thing that we do. Singing her the gospel as a lullaby is just one small way I can do this with Hannah Mai.

In case you’re not familiar with the song here are the full lyrics. I pray they bless you as they have me for such a long time.

In Christ alone my hope isfound;He is my light, my strength, my song;This cornerstone, thissolid ground,Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.What heightsof love, what depths of peace,When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,Fullness of God in helplessbabe!This gift of love and righteousness,Scorned by the ones He cameto save.Till on that cross as Jesus died,The wrath of God wassatisfied;For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ Ilive.

There in the ground His body lay,Light of the world bydarkness slain;Then bursting forth in glorious day,Up from the graveHe rose again!And as He stands in victory,Sin's curse has lost itsgrip on me;For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious bloodof Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—This is the pow'r ofChrist in me;From life's first cry to final breath,Jesus commands mydestiny.No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,Can ever pluck me from Hishand;Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'llstand.